Wednesday, January 16

New York tournament preview: Tenenwurzel and Kupchik

Continuing our preview of the Second American National tournament, we next direct our attention to Edward Tenenwurzel and Abraham Kupchik, two more Masters, born abroad, who today figure prominently among the best American players. Indeed, we wonder whether there ever will come another era when so many of this nation's premier chess exponents will be drawn from the ranks of immigrants. Foreign-born players, particularly those hailing from the Russian empire, have notably enriched American chess life, sharpened the quest for prizes, and elevated the standard of play, circumstances for which all true lovers of our royal game can be grateful. The influx of Masters from abroad makes this a remarkable period in the history of American chess, and we doubt we shall see its like again.

To return to our preview, Tenenwurzel (who assures us that that is indeed the correct spelling of his surname, despite its appearance in other forms in certain newspaper accounts), born in Russia in 1879, first appeared in the public eye in 1910, when he captured the Championship of the prestigious Rice Chess Club. In the following year he shared 9th and 10th places at the New York Masters' tournament with former United States Champion Albert B. Hodges, making the score of 4 1/2 from 12 games and numbering among his victims the visiting Swiss Master P. Johner. We should not be at all surprised to see Tenenwurzel improve upon that earlier showing in the present tourney.

Young Kupchik, still two months shy of attaining his majority, has effected a most rapid rise, taking first prize in the Class B tournament of the New York State Chess Association in 1911, and repeating that feat in the Class A tournament the following year. 1912 also saw Kupchik defeat Kline and Marder in match play. The tourney about to begin will prove his sternest test to date; Kupchik's solid style should serve him well in such strong company.

Two games by Tenenwurzel are subjoined: one, against Rosen, then the Club titleholder, stems from the 1910 Rice Club Championship; the other is the aforementioned victory over Johner. We give as well a victory by Kupchik over Marder, taken from their recent match.